ES2717453T3 - Identification and location of sample containers with RFID tags - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

identification and location of sample containers with RFID tags

The present invention relates to a device, a system, a method, a computer program and a data carrier for identifying and locating sample containers, which have at least one RFID tag. In addition, the invention relates to a method for retrofitting and / or expanding a device.

A generic device is known, for example, from document US 2010/0025464. This device contains several housings, in which a sample container with an RFID tag can be inserted in each case. With the help of a reading device, RFID tags can be read. For this purpose, however, the reading device must be guided along the sample rack or, alternatively, the sample rack must move with respect to the reading device. This procedure is complex, due to the numerous movements required, both mechanically and in terms of the time required. In addition, the individual positions of the sample containers in the sample rack have to be determined with the help of position sensors, which is also very complex from the construction point of view.

A similar device is disclosed in US 2006/0213964. In this device, a reading device is arranged on a robotic arm, with which substances can be introduced into the sample containers at the same time or removed from them. However, this method is also complex from the constructive point of view and in terms of the time required, since each sample container has to be individually controlled with the robotic arm, in order to identify all the sample containers.

Also, for example, EP 2081 128, it is known to have one or more reading antennas in each individual housing. These reading antennas can identify, directly upon inserting the sample container in the housing, the RFID tag affixed thereto. In this way, although relative movements between reading antenna and RFID tag can be dispensed with, however, with this construction, a very large number of reading antennas and corresponding power lines are required. For example, in a housing arrangement in a rectangular array with M rows and N columns, at least MxN read antennas are necessary. Furthermore, for each reading antenna, an independent antenna coupler is necessary in order to make the resonant reading antenna at the scanning frequency and to match the impedance of the reading antenna to that of the reading equipment. Such antenna couplers and their dimensioning are known per se to the person skilled in the art.

Also the additional documents EP 1793326, US 6,392,544 and US 7,319,398 disclose devices in which an independent reading antenna is associated to each housing or position to be located. From them, disadvantages similar to the previous ones arise.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device, a system and a method for the identification and localization of sample containers, which do not present these disadvantages. Among other things, the device should therefore be as simple as possible from a constructive point of view and, in particular, contain as little reading antennae as possible and components that must be moved. In addition, the device must allow identification and location of sample containers as quickly and safely as possible. This objective is achieved, on the one hand, by means of a device according to the invention for the identification and location of sample containers. The sample containers each have at least one RFID tag. The device comprises several housings for housing in each case a sample container. The accommodations can be contained, for example, in a sample rack.

In addition, the device comprises several reading antennas for reading an RFID tag of a sample container housed in one of the housings. Also the reading antennas can be part of a sample rack containing the housings. These reading antennas can optionally be connected to at least one reading device in such a way that an RFID tag can be read, identified and located by means of the reading device and the reading antenna. Preferably, the device comprises this at least one reading device. However, it is also conceivable, and within the scope of the invention, that the device only contains connections, through which the reading antennas can be connected to an external reading device. The person skilled in the art knows per se combinations of reading equipment and reading antennas, with which one or several RFID tags can be read, identified and located. In particular, methods for resolving collisions that can occur when a reading antenna simultaneously excites several RFID tags are known, ie they are power-fed and scanned. Examples of such anti-collision algorithms are described in ISO / IEC-15693-3: 2009 and in EPC ™ Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols Class-1 Generation-2 UHF RFID Protocol for Communications at 860 MHz - 960 MHz Version 1.0.9: 2005 The known anti-collision algorithms only allow, however, to identify all the RFID tags that are in the field of an antenna. reading, but not information, of whatever kind, with respect to its position in the field of a reading antenna. The reading equipment can also be designed, optionally, to write, together with the reading antennas, data in an RFID tag; also, a device of this type is designated as reading device in the context of the invention.

By identification of an RFID tag it is understood here, and hereinafter, that a property that characterizes the RFID tag is found. This property can be, for example, a serial number, in particular univocal, which was programmed on the RFID tag by its manufacturer. Alternatively, the RFID tag may also contain other information, programmed therein before the introduction of the sample container and which unambiguously characterizes the sample contained, such as, for example, the electronic product code (EPC ). By means of the identification of an RFID tag, the sample container containing this RFID tag can also be identified.

Values of at least two coordinates are associated to each housing. In case the housings are arranged, for example, in a rectangular grid, a first coordinate can therefore indicate the column and a second coordinate, the row in this grid. The possible values of the first coordinate can be, for example, 1 (for the first column), 2 (for the second column), etc. This applies analogously to the second coordinate. These two coordinates therefore form Cartesian coordinates.

The association is such that the values of the coordinates unambiguously characterize the accommodations. This means, therefore, that two different accommodations differ in at least one value from one coordinate. Thus, for example, a first housing can be arranged at the intersection of the second row and the third column and a second at the intersection of the second row and the fifth column.

However, it is not mandatory that for each pair of values of possible coordinates there is also a corresponding housing. For example, a rectangular grid with five rows and five columns may not contain, for constructive reasons, any accommodation in the center. In this case, at the intersection of the third row with the third column there is no accommodation.

According to the invention, at least one reading antenna is associated with each value of each of the coordinates. This association means, in this respect, that by means of this reading antenna the RFID tags of the sample containers of those housings to which this value of this coordinate is associated can be read. In this way, the reading antenna is also associated with one or more housings.

In the example of a rectangular grid with five rows and five columns, this means that at each row coordinate (row 1, row 2, row 5) at least one reading antenna is associated. With the aid of this reading antenna, the RFID tags of the sample containers of those housings in the corresponding row can be read. Thus, the device comprises, in this example, therefore, a reading antenna for the first row, a reading antenna for the second row, etc. In addition, the device comprises, in this example, each column in each case at least one read antenna.

By means of this arrangement according to the invention, the number of reading antennas can be markedly reduced. If the device contains, for example, housings arranged in a rectangular grid with M rows and N columns, then only M + N read antennas are required for the MxN housings. Correspondingly, the number of required power lines and antenna couplers can be reduced. Furthermore, there is no need for moving components, which makes the device significantly less prone to failures and the procedure executed with it remarkably faster. In addition, the scan time is correspondingly reduced from MxN cycles to M + N cycles. In spite of this, with this device it is possible to associate the sample containers univocally with the housings in which they are housed, and in this way locate them. This is described below in relation to the method according to the invention.

Preferably, at each value of a first coordinate it can be associated to at least one first reading antenna and to each value of a second coordinate, at least one second reading antenna.

In particular, each of the coordinates can accept at least two, in particular at least three, in particular at least five and in particular at least seven different values. The greater the number of possible values of each of the coordinates, the lower the number of read antennas required for a predefined number of accommodations. If the device contains, for example, 24 housings, it would be necessary, then, in the case of 2 rows and 12 columns, in total 2 + 12 = 14 reading antennas. In the case of 4 rows and 6 columns, instead, only 4 + 6 = 10 reading antennas would be required.

It is particularly advantageous that each of the coordinates can accept the same number of different values. In this way a very small number of reading antennas can be achieved (in relation to the total number of housings). For example, for 36 housings in a rectangular grid with 3 rows and 12 columns, 3 + 12 = 15 antennas are necessary; an arrangement in 6 rows and 6 columns requires, instead, only 6 + 6 = 12 reading antennas.

In principle it is conceivable that several read antennas are associated to a value of one coordinate. This can be done at the same time or successively, for example, the reading of a row in a rectangular grid with several reading antennas that are all associated with this row.

It is preferred that at least one value of one of the coordinates, and preferably each value of each of the coordinates, is exactly associated with a reading antenna. In this way the total number of reading antennas can be kept small, which leads to a special constructive simplicity.

Alternatively to a rectangular grid, the housings may be arranged, for example, in several concentric circles. A first coordinate can then indicate the radius of the circle, and a second coordinate can characterize an angle in the perimeter direction.

In advantageous embodiments, at least one and preferably several, particularly preferably all the reading antennas have several turns interconnected in series. Each of these turns is associated, in this respect, with a housing. The fact that a turn is associated with a housing means, in this respect, that this turn is arranged in such a way that the magnetic field generated by it is suitable for reading the RFID tag of a sample container housed in this housing. With the help of a turn, the intensity of the magnetic field in the area of the housing can be increased locally, which simplifies the reading of the RFID tag. Preferably, a loop of these reading antennas is also associated to each housing associated with the reading antennas. In this way, all these accommodations can be read easily.

An especially simple construction design is obtained when the reading antennas associated with a first coordinate are essentially arranged in a first plane of the device and the reading antennas associated with a second coordinate are arranged essentially in a second plane, which runs essentially parallel to the foreground. In particular, the reading antennas associated with a first coordinate can be arranged on a first plate and the read antennas of a second coordinate on a second plate that runs parallel to the first plate. The two planes can be placed, alternatively, also on the upper or lower face of a laminated double-sided plate. Both construction methods save a lot of space and costs.

Particularly in the case of the presence of turns, the crossing points of the reading antennas can not be avoided as a rule. At these crossing points, the sections of the reading antenna must be guided by passing one over the other, so that there is no electrical contact between different points of the reading antennas. The "essentially in a plane" formulation also encompasses reading antennas containing such crossing points. Such crossing points can be created in a simple manner with the aid of metallic steps, known per se by the state of the art.

Advantageously, the reading antennas, in particular the strips containing the reading antennas, are arranged on an antenna plate. This results in a small constructive form. Preferably, the antenna plate contains a bottom plate and a cover plate, between which the reading antennas are enclosed, in particular the one or the plates containing the reading antennas.

In some embodiments, the antenna plate is configured as a base plate, disposed below the housings, in particular below a sample rack containing the housings. This is especially advantageous when the RFID tags are arranged on the underside of the sample containers. In some variants, the sample containers can be deposited on the base plate. In this way, the base plate can support the sample containers at the same time. In other variants, the base plate can also be arranged so that the sample containers can be arranged above the base plate, without touching it.

Alternatively or additionally, the antenna plate can be configured as a perforated plate. This perforated plate has several holes, which in each case form at least one part of the housing and in which a sample container can be inserted in each case. In this case, the perforated plate itself is part of a sample rack. Such an arrangement is especially preferred when the RFID tags are disposed on the undersides of the sample containers.

It is especially preferable in this case that at least one, and preferably all the reading antennas contained in the perforated plate, contain turns which surround the holes. In this way a larger and spatially better delimited magnetic field can be generated, of approximately equal intensity for all the holes, since the distance of the turn with respect to the hole for the sample container turns out to be equally large for all the holes.

To couple the impedance between the reading equipment and the reading antennas, preferably an antenna coupler is used. Such antenna couplers are known per se to the person skilled in the art and are essential, at least in most cases, to make the resonant reading antennas and carry the necessary current flowing through a loop from the source in the apparatus reading up to the reading antenna. Especially when the reading antennas are slightly apart from the reading apparatus, the coupling to a conduction impedance of the power supply line serving for the connection (for example 50 ohms) is advantageous.

In the context of the present invention, it has been particularly favorable that the reading device is connected or can be connected to at least one, preferably with each reading antenna, through a respective antenna coupler. This antenna coupler contains, in an advantageous embodiment:

- a first capacitor, which is arranged in series between the reading device and the reading antenna, and

- a second capacitor, which is arranged in parallel to the reading device and the reading antenna.

In a first variant, the second capacitor can be arranged between the reading device and the first capacitor. Alternatively, the second capacitor may be arranged, in a second variant, between the first capacitor and the reading antenna.

In both variants, the two capacitors serve for the transformation of the impedance of the loop in the impedance of the reading equipment to the scanning frequency, preferably 50 ohms. This type of resonant coupling is known per se to the person skilled in the art. The inductance of the read antenna is compensated in this way and the ohmic residual impedance is transformed.

Preferably, a respective first switch is arranged between the reading device and at least one, preferably each reading antenna. The first switches serve to connect the reading antennas, in each case individually and preferably sequentially, with the reading equipment. The first switches can be arranged in series between the reading equipment and the antenna coupler.

Similarly, a second switch is arranged between the second capacitor and the read antenna. With the aid of the respective second switch, the induction loop in which the read antenna is contained can be opened. This is necessary to avoid unwanted induction effects. For example, during reading by means of a first reading antenna, the second switch of the antenna coupler of a second reading antenna must be open, so that no induction current, which could generate a signal, flows towards the second reading antenna. in turn a magnetic field and, thus, disturb the reading by means of the first reading antenna.

The second switch can be arranged in series between the antenna coupler and the reading antenna. Alternatively, for the antenna coupler in the above-mentioned second advantageous variant, it can also be part of the antenna coupler and be arranged between the second capacitor and the reading antenna. In a particularly preferred manner, the reading antenna must not have, with the open switch, any circuit closed by any construction element.

In case a first switch and a second switch are present, it is especially favorable that the first switch and the second switch of the same antenna coupler can be activated synchronously. Therefore, when, for example, the first switch of a first antenna coupler is opened, to finish the reading with the first reading antenna, the second switch of the first antenna coupler can also be opened at the same time, in order to prevent induction currents appear in the first reading antenna. Without additional measures, it may occur (caused by the quality factor of the resonance circuit, formed by the reading antenna and the antenna coupler) that the voltages in the second switch, placed directly in series with respect to the reading antenna, they become so big that they exceed their power supply voltage and it no longer works as expected. To alleviate this problem, the antenna coupler of the second advantageous variant mentioned above can be used and the second switch can advantageously be arranged between the first capacitor interconnected in series and the second capacitor interconnected in parallel. With the aid of this interchange of place of the first capacitor and the second switch, the voltage in the second switch can be reduced, which guarantees its functionality. In each case, only the reading antenna that has scanned the accommodations in its reading range is connected to the reading device.

An antenna coupler as described above with switches leads to open current circuits of all the unexplored read antennas and, therefore, to a suppression of the magnetic field in each of the spatially adjacent housings of all these unexplored read antennas. . In this way, only the RFID tags are detected more precisely in those sample containers housed in the housings to which the scanned read antenna is associated. This process is carried out, sequentially, for all the reading antennas that are being scanned.

The sizing of the capacitances of the two capacitors is known to the person skilled in the art or can be established at least by routine tests. Electronic switches suitable for analog signals are also known per se by the person skilled in the art.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a system for identifying and locating sample containers having at least one RFID tag. Such a system comprises at least one device as described above and at least one sample container. In this regard, this sample container has at least one RFID tag and can be housed in a housing of the device in such a way that the RFID tag can be read, identified and located by means of the reading equipment and at least one of the reading antennas. . In particular, the RFID tag is arranged in the sample container in such a way that it can be read by the device, when the sample container is housed in the housing.

In addition, the invention relates to a method for identifying and locating sample containers having at least one RFID tag. This procedure is carried out using a device as described above and contains the following steps:

to. providing at least one sample container having at least one RFID tag, in a housing of the device;

b. sequentially connect the reading equipment with each reading antenna and, in each case,

bi. by means of the reading equipment and this reading antenna: read and identify those RFID tags that are associated with this reading antenna;

b.ii. associating the identifications of these RFID tags with the value of the coordinate to which this reading antenna is associated;

c. locating at least one of the sample containers by determining the values of the coordinates (x and y), to which the identification of the RFID tags (3) of the sample container (2) was associated. Stage a. it can be done, for example, by introducing the sample containers in the housings. However, the sample containers can also be accommodated at the beginning of the procedure in the housings.

In stage b. the reading antennas are connected, therefore, sequentially, with the reading equipment. This can be done, for example, with the help of the respective first switches of the antenna couplers described above. For each of the reading antennas, then, in a first sub-step b.i., those RFID tags that are associated with this reading antenna are read. As a general rule, several RFID tags have to be read and identified, provided that the reading antenna is associated with several housings. If, for example, in the second row of a rectangular grid three sample containers are inserted with in each case an RFID tag, these have to be read and identified.

To this end, the person skilled in the art knows per se known as anti-collision mechanisms. For example, according to ISO / IEC-15693-3: 2009, RFID tags are individually excited with the help of a unique 64-bit serial number. Alternatively, for example according to mode 3 of ISO / IEC 18000-3: 2010 or according to EPC ™ Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols Class-1 Generation-2 UHF RFID Protocol for Communications at 860 MHz - 960 MHz Version 1.0. 9: 2005, any RFID tag can generate a random number of 32 bits, with the help of which collisions can be canceled and the RFID tags can be read one after another and identified by the EPC. These procedures are known per se to the person skilled in the art and therefore do not require further explanation in this document.

In another sub-step b.ii., the identifications of these RFID tags are associated with the value of the coordinate to which the reading antenna is associated. Therefore, if for example with the reading antenna associated with row 2 RFID tags are associated with identifications 123, 456 and 789, these identifications 123, 456 and 789 are associated with row 2. Finally, in step c . the location of at least one sample container is carried out. Therefore, if in a refinement of the previous example, the identification 123 was identified both with the reading antenna for row 2 as with the reading antenna for column 3, then the sample container with this RFID tag is in a housing (established unambiguously) at the intersection of row 2 with column 3.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for retrofitting and / or expanding a device comprising several housings for housing in each case a sample container, but not necessarily reading antennas. The method includes a step in which the device is equipped with several reading antennas to read an RFID tag of a sample container, such that a device according to the invention is obtained. This means, therefore, that the reading antennas of the retrofitted or expanded device can optionally be connected to at least one reading device, so that an RFID tag can be read, identified and located by means of the reading device and this reading antenna. In addition, values of at least two coordinates, which uniquely characterize the accommodations, will be associated or associated to each accommodation. Furthermore, at each value of each of the coordinates, at least one reading antenna will be associated or associated, by means of which the RFID tags of the sample containers of the housings to which this value of this is associated can be read. coordinate. With this method, therefore, an existing device can be retrofitted or extended in such a way that a device according to the invention is produced with the advantages described above, with which the method according to the invention can be carried out previously. described for identification and location.

In particular, a device with a sample rack can be retrofitted by replacing this sample rack with a sample rack containing an arrangement as described above for reading antennas. A device can be extended by equipping it with a sample rack containing an arrangement as described above for reading antennas.

Preferably, the device, in particular its reading equipment, is programmed in such a way that it can carry out a procedure as described above, in particular the reading, identification and location using an anti-collision mechanism. Alternatively, it is also possible, however, that the device, in particular its reading equipment, be programmed by the user to carry out this procedure. Another aspect of the invention is, therefore, a computer program, configured to carry out a method as described above, when executed by a device as described above, in particular by the reading device of the device. A further aspect of the invention is oriented to data support, which contains a computer program of this type.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments and drawings. In this regard, they show:

Figure 1: an exploded representation, in perspective, of an antenna plate of a device according to the invention;

Figure 2: a schematic representation of a reading antenna;

Figure 3: a side view of a first exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a device with an antenna plate according to figure 1 in the form of a base plate;

Figure 4: a side view of a second exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a device with an antenna plate in the form of a perforated plate;

Figure 5: a flow diagram relative to the method according to the invention;

Figure 6: a first connection diagram with three antenna couplers in series-parallel interconnection;

Figure 7: a second connection diagram with an antenna coupler in parallel-series interconnection;

Figure 8: a third connection diagram with an antenna coupler in parallel-series interconnection with the second switch in another place.

Figure 1 shows an antenna plate of a device according to the invention. This antenna plate is configured as base plate 10 and contains a bottom plate 13, a first plate 8, a second plate 9 as well as a cover plate 14. In this respect, the first plate 8 is arranged in a first plane E1 and the second plate 9 in a second plane E2 parallel to the first. The plates 8 and 9 can be manufactured, for example, according to the FR4 standard and have a thickness of 1.5 mm. Alternatively and advantageously, a laminated plate can be used on both sides, so that the planes E1 and E2 are separated by the carrier material of the printed circuit board. Such laminated plates on both sides are known per se to the person skilled in the art. The bottom plate 13 and the cover plate 14 can be composed, for example, of FR4 of any other material suitable for plates. In the embodiment shown here, both the bottom plate 13 as the cover plate 14 are square and may have side lengths of, for example, 30 cm. Obviously it is also conceivable, and falls within the scope of the invention, that the bottom plate 13 and the cover plate 14 have other dimensions and are not square.

The first deck 8 contains five read antennas 5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4 and 5x5. Each of these five reading antennas is associated with a value x1 = 1, x2 = 2, x3 = 3, x4 = 4 or x5 = 5 of a coordinate x. In this respect, a first loop is associated to the value x1 = 1 of the x coordinate, a second turn to the value x2 = 2, etc. Correspondingly, the second plate 9 contains five read antennas 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4 and 5y5, which are associated with the five values y1 = 1, y2 = 2, y3 = 3, y4 = 4 or y5 = 5 of a y coordinate. In total, in this way, one of the reading antennas 5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4 and 5y5 is exactly associated to each of the ten coordinate values. The coordinates x and y form, together, Cartesian coordinates.

Figure 2 shows a fragment of the first plate 8, which contains the reading antenna 5x1. The other read antennas 5x2, 5x3, 5x4 and 5x5 of the first platen 8 as well as the read antennas 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4 and 5y5 of the second platen 9 preferably have the same shape as the read antenna 5x1 ; however, its shape may also differ from this. The 5x1 reading antenna contains five turns 7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"' and 7 "" interconnected in series. The number 5 of these turns corresponds, in this respect, to the number of values of the y coordinate.

The five turns 7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"' and 7 "" are essentially rectangular in shape and have, in the embodiment shown here, a length of a = 18 mm and a width of b = 18 mm . The distance between the centers of adjacent turns 7 in each case amounts to c = 26 mm. These dimensions are not critical and allow the reciprocal inductions that appear between the turns of different reading antennas to be so small that they do not disturb the reading of the RFID tags, as explained below.

By means of the reading antenna 5x1 an electric current can be conducted, whose current direction is indicated by the arrow 16. Each turn 7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"' and 7 "" contains a respective crossing point 18, by the that the sections of the 5x1 reading antenna are guided by passing one over the other, so that no electrical contact occurs here. In a manner known per se, each spiral 7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"' and 7 "" generates within it an intensifying, spatially delimited magnetic field, which is represented schematically by the arrows 17a and the ends of vector 17b. In the intermediate spaces parts of the magnetic field vectors of individual conductor sections are compensated.

As can be clearly seen in Figure 1, in each case a turn of the first plate 8 is located below a corresponding turn of the second plate 9. To this pair of turns is thus associated a pair of values of coordinates. Thus, for example, the loop of the reading antenna 5y1 shown further forward in FIG. 1 is located above the loop of the reading antenna 5x5 shown further to the right. To these two read antennas 5x5 and 5y1 are therefore associated the coordinate values x = x5 = 5 and y = y1 = 1. In FIG. 3, a device 1 according to the invention is reproduced with a base plate 10 shown in figure 1. The device 1 contains a rack of samples 15 with 25 housings 4 configured as openings, of which only one is represented here. Each of these housings 4 can house a sample container 2, such as a test tube. To simplify the representation, only a single sample container 2 is also shown. An annular clamp 19 is fixed to the sample container 2, which contains at its upper end an RFID tag 3 and at its lower end a spacer ring 20. RFID tag 3 contains an identification, which can be, for example, a unique serial number. Due to the arrangement of the RFID tag 3 in the sample container 2, this has also indirectly associated with this identification. The sample container 2 may have, for example, a diameter of D = 17 mm, the RFID tag 3 an outside diameter of d = 21 mm and the spacer ring 20 a height of h = 10 mm. The distance from the bottom side of the RFID tag 3 to the base plate 10 can amount to a = 19 mm. It has been shown that the RFID 3 tag can be read especially well with these dimensions. Naturally, these dimensions can also be chosen differently, which can be done by the person skilled in the art by means of routine tests.

Each of the housings 4 is located above exactly one turn of the first plate 8 and above exactly one coil of the second plate 9. Each housing 4 is therefore associated with a value of the coordinate x and a value of the y coordinate. These values of the coordinates characterize the accommodations 4 in a unique way. The accommodations 4 are therefore arranged in a rectangular grid with five rows and five columns, indicating the x coordinate of the column and the coordinate and row in this grid. The base plate 10 contains on its face ten antenna couplers with switches, which allow connecting the 10 reading antennas 5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y4 to a collection line, driving this collector line to connection 21. Through this connection 21 the respective read antennas can be joined with a reading device, but it is also not shown here to simplify the representation. The reading equipment can be part of the device 1; alternatively, it can also be, however, an external component.

The integration of the reading device in the plate 8 or 9 is advantageous. By means of the connection of a reading antenna with the reading equipment, those RFID tags 3 that are arranged above this reading antenna, ie associated, can be read and identified. this. This procedure is explained in more detail below.

In an alternative embodiment, in this case not shown, the sample rack can contain housings arranged in a rectangular grid with 9 rows and 7 columns. In this alternative embodiment, the diameter of the sample container can be 16 mm. The total mass can amount to 234 mm by 182 mm, without taking into account the area of the plate for the antenna coupler and the power lines. It is advantageous if the turns are arranged as close as possible to the receiving openings for the sample container and that the distance between adjacent reading antennas is selected as large as possible. In this regard, however, the largest possible number of sample containers should preferably be located on a given surface for economic reasons, among others. These dimensions can be established by the person skilled in the art by means of calculations and routine tests. Obviously, other dimensions can also be chosen, with which the disturbances mentioned can be avoided.

In FIG. 4, a second device 1 'is shown according to the invention. In this embodiment, the antenna plate is not made as a base plate, but as a perforated plate 11. This perforated plate 11 contains a rectangular grid of holes 12, which are arranged in five rows and five columns. At home one of the holes 12 can be introduced a sample container 2. The holes 12 thus form part of the housing 4. The perforated plate 11 thus forms part of the sample rack 15 itself. holes 12 is surrounded by exactly one of the read antennas 5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4 and 5x5 of the first platen 8 and exactly one of the read antennas 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4 and 5y5 of the second platen 9.

Alternatively to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the RFID tag 3 can also be arranged, of course, at other points of the sample container 2, provided that it can be read by the reading antennas. In particular, it may also be embedded, for example, in the sample container 2.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart with the aid of which an embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown. First, one or more sample containers 2 are introduced with at least one RFID tag 3 in each case according to step a. in a respective housing 4 of the device 1, 1 '; this is not represented in figure 5. Next, the reading equipment is optionally initialized. This means that the configuration of the reading equipment is carried out according to the chosen standard, the size of the sample rack (in particular the number of rows and the number of columns), the emission power and the usual software settings before execute a control task.

Then a row is chosen. The reading device 6 is connected to the reading antenna 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5 associated with this row, and with this the RFID tags 3 are read and identified in this row. This can be done, for example, in accordance with ISO 15693-3: 2009. Then it is checked if all the rows have already been read. If this is not the case, another row is selected. When all the rows have been read, the RFID tags are associated with the individual rows.

In the following steps, the read antennas 5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5 associated with the columns with the reading equipment 6 are connected in a corresponding manner, in order to read and identify the RFID tags 3 in the respective columns ( stage bi). Then the RFID tags 3 are associated to the columns (step b.ii.).

Finally, the RFID 3 tags identified in step c are associated. to the housings 4. Indirectly, in this way all the sample containers 2 have also been located.

In an optional next step, the association of the RFID tags 3 with respect to the housings 4 can be transmitted, in one step, graphically, for example on a monitor.

By deviating from the flow diagram shown in Figure 5, it is also possible, of course, to read the columns first and then the rows. Alternatively, for example, the first row can also be read first, then the first column, then the second row, etc.

To connect the impedance between the reading equipment 6 and the reading antennas, an antenna coupler can be used. The connection diagram according to Figure 6 shows a reading device 6, which can optionally be connected with three reading antennas 5y1, 5y2 and 5y3. (In order to simplify the representation, in this case, unlike the previous embodiments, only three reading antennas are used, but it will be clear to the person skilled in the art how this example can be adapted to five reading antennas.) reading device 6 can also be connected, preferably, through respective antenna couplers, with three read antennas 5x1, 5x2 and 5x3; although this is also not shown here to simplify the representation. The read antennas 5y1, 5y2 and 5y3 are represented, in each case, only schematically by their inductivities L1, L2 and L3.

With the help of the switches Si, i, S2, i and S3, i can connect the reading antennas 5yi, 5y2, 5y3 optionally with the reading equipment 6. In the first antenna coupler, shown above in figure 6, between the first switch Yes, i and the read antenna 5yi are serially interconnected a first capacitor Ci, i and a second switch S i, 2. In addition, the first antenna coupler contains a second capacitor Ci, 2, which is arranged parallel to the read antenna 5yi. The second switch S i, 2 is, in this respect, between the second capacitor C i, 2 and the read antenna 5 y i. The functions of the switches and capacitors have already been described above. The first switch Si, i and the second switch S i, 2 are preferably activated synchronously. The second and the third antenna coupler contain corresponding capacitors and second switches. In this way, induction currents can be avoided that otherwise could be caused by one of the reading antennas in each case in the other reading antennas.

Figure 7 shows a still more preferred antenna coupler. To simplify the representation it is only shown in this case for a single reading antenna 5yi, which is characterized in turn only by its Li inductance. In front of the antenna couplers of figure 6, in the antenna coupler according to figure 7, the position of the capacitor Ci, i arranged in series is exchanged with the position of the capacitor Ci, 2 arranged in parallel; the second capacitor interconnected in parallel is therefore arranged between the first capacitor interconnected in series and the reading antennas.

An even more preferred antenna coupler is shown in FIG. 8. In front of the antenna coupler in FIG. 7, additionally the switch S i, 2 is arranged before the first capacitor Ci, i. In this way high voltages can be avoided in the second switch S i, 2, which otherwise could affect its functionality. These exchanges, however, do not influence, as is known, the switching function. In this way, the high voltages in the reading antenna, which are produced as a consequence of the quality factor of the LC circuit, can be reduced in the second switch S i, 2. The switch could otherwise be affected in its functionality, if the voltage exceeds its supply voltage.

Claims (15)

Device (1; 1 ') for the identification and location of sample containers (2) having at least one RFID tag (3), comprising - several housings (4) for housing in each case a sample container (2); - several reading antennas (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5) to read an etiq sample container (2) housed in one of the housings (4), where the antennas of reading (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5ys) can optionally be connected to at least one reading device (6), in such a way that an RFID tag (3) can be read, identified and located by reading equipment (6) and of this reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5); where to each housing (4) are associated values (x1, x2, x3, x4, x5, y1, y2, y3, y4, y5) of at least two coordinates (x, y), which uniquely characterize the accommodations (4); characterized by that At least one value (x1, x2, x3, x4, x5, y1, y2, y3, y4, y5) of one of the coordinates (x, y) is exactly associated with a reading antenna (5x1.5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5ys), by means of which the RFID tags (3) of the sample containers (2) of the housings (4) to which this value is associated can be read ( x1, x2, x3, x4, x5, y1, y2, y3, y4, y5) of this coordinate (x, y). 2. Device (1; 1 ') according to the preceding claim, characterized by that Each value (x1, x2, x3, x4, x5, y1, y2, y3, y4, y5) of each of the coordinates (x, y) is exactly associated with a reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4) , 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5ys), by means of which the labels can be read RFID (3) of the sample containers (2) of the housings (4) to which this value (x1, x2, x3, x4, x5, y1, y2, y3, y4, y5) of this coordinate is associated ( x, y). Device (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the housings (4) are arranged in an essentially rectangular grid and a first coordinate (x) indicates the column and a second coordinate (y) indicates the row in this grid. 4. Device (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one, preferably several, particularly preferably all reading antennas (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5) have several turns (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7'", 7 "") interconnected in series, each loop being associated (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7" ', 7 "") to a housing (4). Device (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the read antennas (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5) associated with a first coordinate (x) are arranged essentially in a first plane (E1) of the device (1; 1 ') and the reading antennas (5y1, 5y2 , 5y3, 5y4, 5y5) associated with a second coordinate (y) are essentially arranged in a second plane (E2) of the device (1; 1 '), which runs essentially parallel to the first plane (E1), in particular the first plane (E1) in a first plate (8) and running the second plane (E2) in a second plate (9) or running the first plane (E1) in a top face of a plate and the second plane (E2) running in a lower face of this plate. Device (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5ys), preferably all the antennas of reading (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5), are arranged on a base plate (10), disp of the housings (4). Device (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5ys), preferably all the antennas of reading (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5), are arranged on a perforated plate (11), which has several holes, each forming at least part of the housing ( 4) and in which a sample container (2) can be inserted in each case. 8. Device (1; 1 ') with the features of claims 4 and 7, characterized by that at least one, preferably all the turns (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 "") in each case surround one of the holes. Device (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the reading device (6) is connected or can be connected to at least one, preferably with each reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5) through a respective coupler antenna, where the antenna coupler contains: - a first capacitor (C1.1, C2.1, C3.1), which is arranged in series between the reading device (6) and the reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3), Y - a second capacitor (C1,2, C2,2, C3,2), which is arranged in parallel to the reading device (6) and to the reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3). 10. System for identifying and locating sample containers (2) that have at least one RFID tag (3), comprising - at least one device (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, - at least one sample container (2) having at least one RFID tag (3) and which can be housed in a housing (4) of the device (1; 1 ') in such a way that the RFID tag (3) can be read , be identified and located by means of the reading device (6) and at least one of the reading antennas (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5). 11. Procedure for the identification and location of sample containers (2) having at least one RFID tag (3), using a device (1; 1 ') according to one of claims 1 to 9 or a system of agreement with claim 10, which contains the following steps: to. providing at least one sample container (2) having at least one RFID tag (3), in a housing (4) of the device (1; 1 '); b. sequentially connect the reading equipment (6) with each reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5) and, in each case, bi. by means of reading equipment (6) and this reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5): read and identify those RFID tags (3) that are associated with this reading antenna (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5); b.ii. associate the identifications of these RFID tags (3) with the value (x1, x2, x3, x4, x5, y1, y2, y3, y4, y5) of the coordinate (x, y) to which this reading antenna is associated (5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5); c. locate at least one of the sample containers (2) by determining the values (x1, x2, x3, x4, x5, y1, y2, y3, y4, y5) of the coordinates (x, y) to which associated the identification of the RFID tags (3) of the sample container (2). 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized by that the reading and identification of the RFID tags (3) in the bi-stage is done using an anti-collision mechanism, in particular in accordance with ISO / IEC-15693-3: 2009 and / or in accordance with mode 3 of the standard ISO / IEC 18000-3: 2010 and / or according to EPC ™ Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols Class-1 Generation-2 UHF RFID Protocol for Communications at 860 MHz - 960 MHz Version 1.0.9: 2005. 13. Procedure for retrofitting and / or expanding a device comprising several housings (4) to house in each case a sample container (2), which contains a stage, in which the device is equipped with several reading antennas (5x1) , 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5y1, 5y2, 5y3, 5y4, 5y5) to read an RFID tag (3) of a sample container (2), in such a way that a device (1; 1 ') is obtained according to one of claims 1 to 9. Computer program, which is configured to carry out a method according to one of claims 11 and 12, when executed by a device (1; 1 ') according to one of the claims 1 to 9, in particular by the reading device (6) of the device (1; 1 '). 15. Data carrier, which contains a computer program according to claim 14.